Change of Use

Planning Applications / Change of Use

Change of Use

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) puts uses of land and buildings into various categories known as ‘Use Classes’. This Order is periodically amended and for the latest information reference should be made to the Planning Portal website. It is generally the case that you will need planning permission to change from one use class to another, although there are many exceptions which are referred to as ‘Permitted Changes’, allowing some changes between uses.

The general principle is that a use can change if it does not have the potential for greater detriment to the public, or to neighbouring uses. For example, A3, (restaurant) uses can change to A1, (shop) use without the need for planning permission. However, if you are proposing to change the use of property or land, you should always seek advice from a planning consultant or your Council to confirm whether planning permission is required or not. In any event, you may wish to have documentary evidence of the change and you can achieve this via a ‘Certificate of Lawfulness’, which provide assurance that the new use will be free from the threat of planning enforcement.

Before you negotiate a lease or buy a property, it may be advisable to consider whether you need to obtain planning permission for your intended use and, if so, your chances of getting planning approval for it.

The following schedule gives an indication of the types of use which may fall within each use class. Please note that this guide relates to use classes at the time of writing and reference should be made to the planning portal to identify subsequent amendments.

A2 Financial and professional services – Financial services such as banks and building societies, professional services (other than health and medical services) and including estate and employment agencies. It does not include betting offices or pay day loan shops – these are now classed as “sui generis” uses (see below).

A3 Restaurants and cafés – For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises – restaurants, snack bars and cafes.

C2A Secure Residential Institution – Use for a provision of secure residential accommodation, including use as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or use as a military barracks.

C3 Dwellinghouses – this class is formed of 3 parts:

C3(a) covers use by a single person or a family (a couple whether married or not, a person related to one another with members of the family of one of the couple to be treated as members of the family of the other), an employer and certain domestic employees (such as an au pair, nanny, nurse, governess, servant, chauffeur, gardener, secretary and personal assistant), a carer and the person receiving the care and a foster parent and foster child.

C3(b): up to six people living together as a single household and receiving care e.g. supported housing schemes such as those for people with learning disabilities or mental health problems.

C3(c) allows for groups of people (up to six) living together as a single household. This allows for those groupings that do not fall within the C4 HMO definition, but which fell within the previous C3 use class, to be provided for i.e. a small religious community may fall into this section as could a homeowner who is living with a lodger.

C4 Houses in multiple occupation – small shared houses occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who share basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom.

How can Get Planning and Architecture help you?

Get Planning and Architecture has worked with a large range of clients on both small and large-scale planning and architectural projects for change of use. We have achieved successful planning applications with many different projects in this area undertaking new build or conversions, retail and restaurant owners, office building, churches, houses, flats, leisure facilities and many others. We pride ourselves on our analysis of planning policy and joined-up, strategic thinking which will allow you to maximise the potential of your site within the many planning, design and legislative constraints that exist. We would be pleased to show you examples of work we have already completed successfully.

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